Darkness has always had a mysterious allure, capturing our imagination and evoking a sense of the unknown.
In this listicle, we will delve into idioms for darkness, uncovering their meanings and shedding light on their usage. Join us on this enlightening journey through expressions that illuminate the world of language.
What is an idiom for darkness?
Idioms are phrases or expressions that convey meanings beyond the literal interpretation of their individual words.
When it comes to idioms for darkness, these expressions often reflect the enigmatic, obscure, or hidden aspects of life.
Let’s explore a list of idioms related to darkness, along with their meanings and usage:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| In the dark | Uninformed or unaware of something. | He was completely in the dark about the surprise party. |
| Pitch black | Extremely dark or completely lacking in light. | The cave was pitch black, requiring flashlights to navigate. |
| The black of night | The darkest part of the night with minimal light. | They ventured into the forest during the black of night. |
| Nightfall | The onset of night or evening twilight. | Stars began to appear as nightfall descended. |
| Under the cover of darkness | Secretly or discreetly doing something during the night. | The thieves operated under the cover of darkness. |
| In the dead of night | During the deepest and darkest part of the night. | Strange noises came from the woods in the dead of night. |
| As dark as coal | Completely black or devoid of light. | The tunnel was as dark as coal, making it hard to see. |
| As dark as night | Extremely dark, lacking visible light. | The forest at midnight was as dark as night, requiring flashlights. |
| As black as pitch | As dark as pitch, a thick, black substance. | The room was as black as pitch when the power went out. |
| As black as the ace of spades | Extremely black or dark. | The storm clouds were as black as the ace of spades. |
| As black as coal | Very dark, like the color of coal. | The night sky was as black as coal, with no stars visible. |
| As black as the night sky | Completely dark, as in a moonless night. | Without streetlights, the road was as black as the night sky. |
| Inky black | As dark as ink, which is very dark. | The lake looked inky black under the tree’s shadow. |
| In the shadow of night | During the nighttime or under the cover of darkness. | Nocturnal animals emerge in the shadow of night. |
| In the depths of darkness | In the darkest and most obscure places. | The treasure was hidden in the depths of darkness within the cave. |
| In the pitch of night | In the darkest part of the night. | Eerie sounds echoed through the forest in the pitch of night. |
| A blanket of darkness | A thick and all-encompassing darkness. | The city was shrouded in a blanket of darkness during the blackout. |
| Wrapped in darkness | Completely surrounded by darkness. | The haunted mansion seemed wrapped in darkness, devoid of life. |
| In the blackness of night | In the complete absence of light during the night. | They were lost in the blackness of night, struggling to find their way. |
| Cloaked in darkness | Hidden or concealed in darkness. | The mysterious figure moved silently through the forest, cloaked in darkness. |
| Lost in the dark | Confused or unable to find one’s way in the dark. | Without a flashlight, they were lost in the dark woods. |
| A veil of darkness | A layer or cover of darkness. | As the sun set, a veil of darkness descended upon the town. |
| Drowning in darkness | Overwhelmed or consumed by darkness. | His mind felt like it was drowning in darkness after the trauma. |
| Dark as the abyss | Extremely dark and seemingly endless, like the abyss. | The cave was dark as the abyss, with no visible end. |
| Dark as a dungeon | Extremely dark and oppressive, like a dungeon. | The basement was as dark as a dungeon, making them hesitant to go down. |
| Dark as midnight | As dark as the middle of the night. | The room felt like midnight, even though it was only evening. |
| Dark as a moonless night | Extremely dark with no moonlight. | The forest was as dark as a moonless night, requiring flashlights. |
Darkness is like a heavy blanket that hides the world’s secrets, shrouding everything in obscurity. For more comparisons to describe darkness, you can check this link: Similes for darkness. And if you want to explore various metaphors related to darkness, you can visit this link: Metaphors for darkness.
Idioms for Darkness
1. In the dark
Meaning: To be uninformed or unaware of something.
In a Sentence: He was completely in the dark about the surprise party planned by his friends.
2. Pitch black
Meaning: Extremely dark or completely lacking in light.
In a Sentence: The cave was pitch black, and we needed flashlights to navigate its depths.
3. The black of night
Meaning: The darkest part of the night when very little light is visible.
In a Sentence: They ventured into the forest only to find themselves surrounded by the black of night.
4. Nightfall
Meaning: The onset of night or the evening twilight.
In a Sentence: As nightfall descended, the stars began to appear in the sky.
5. Under the cover of darkness
Meaning: To do something secretly or discreetly during the night.
In a Sentence: The thieves operated under the cover of darkness to break into the museum.
6. In the dead of night
Meaning: During the deepest and darkest part of the night.
In a Sentence: He heard strange noises coming from the woods in the dead of night.
7. As dark as coal
Meaning: Completely black or devoid of light.
In a Sentence: The tunnel was as dark as coal, making it difficult to see.
8. As dark as night
Meaning: Extremely dark and lacking in any visible light.
In a Sentence: The forest at midnight was as dark as night, and they relied on their flashlights to find their way.
9. As black as pitch
Meaning: As dark as a substance like pitch, which is nearly black and thick.
In a Sentence: The room was as black as pitch when the power went out.
10. As black as the ace of spades
Meaning: Extremely black or dark.
In a Sentence: The storm clouds were as black as the ace of spades, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
11. As black as coal
Meaning: Very dark, like the color of coal.
In a Sentence: The night sky was as black as coal, and not a single star could be seen.
12. As black as the night sky
Meaning: Completely dark, like the sky on a moonless night.
In a Sentence: Without streetlights, the road ahead was as black as the night sky.
13. Inky black
Meaning: As dark as ink, which is very dark in color.
In a Sentence: The lake looked inky black under the shadow of the surrounding trees.
14. In the shadow of night
Meaning: During the nighttime or under the cover of darkness.
In a Sentence: The nocturnal animals emerged in the shadow of night.
15. In the depths of darkness
Meaning: In the darkest and most obscure places.
In a Sentence: The treasure was hidden in the depths of darkness within the cave.
16. In the pitch of night
Meaning: In the darkest part of the night.
In a Sentence: The eerie sounds echoed through the forest in the pitch of night.
17. A blanket of darkness
Meaning: A thick and all-encompassing darkness.
In a Sentence: The city was shrouded in a blanket of darkness during the blackout.
18. Wrapped in darkness
Meaning: Completely surrounded by darkness.
In a Sentence: The old haunted mansion seemed to be wrapped in darkness, with no signs of life.
19. In the blackness of night
Meaning: In the complete absence of light during the night.
In a Sentence: Lost in the blackness of night, they struggled to find their way back to the camp.
20. Cloaked in darkness
Meaning: Hidden or concealed in darkness.
In a Sentence: The mysterious figure moved silently through the forest, cloaked in darkness.
21. Lost in the dark
Meaning: To be confused or unable to find one’s way in the dark.
In a Sentence: Without a flashlight, they were lost in the dark woods.
22. A veil of darkness
Meaning: A layer or cover of darkness.
In a Sentence: As the sun set, a veil of darkness descended upon the town.
23. Drowning in darkness
Meaning: To be overwhelmed or consumed by darkness.
In a Sentence: His mind felt like it was drowning in darkness after the traumatic experience.
24. Dark as the abyss
Meaning: Extremely dark and seemingly endless, like the abyss.
In a Sentence: The cave was dark as the abyss, with no visible end in sight.
25. Dark as a dungeon
Meaning: Extremely dark and oppressive, like a dungeon.
In a Sentence: The basement was as dark as a dungeon, and they hesitated to go down.
26. Dark as midnight
Meaning: As dark as the middle of the night.
In a Sentence: The room was so dark it felt like midnight even though it was only evening.
27. Dark as a moonless night
Meaning: Extremely dark with no moonlight.
In a Sentence: The forest was as dark as a moonless night, and they relied on their flashlights to navigate.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
Question: What does the idiom “In the dark” mean?
- To have good visibility.
- To be uninformed or unaware of something.
- To be well-lit.
Answer: 2. To be uninformed or unaware of something.
Quiz 2:
Question: What does the idiom “Pitch black” describe?
- A bright and sunny day.
- Extremely dark or completely lacking in light.
- A moonlit night.
Answer: 2. Extremely dark or completely lacking in light.
Quiz 3:
Question: When does “Nightfall” occur?
- In the morning.
- During the evening twilight.
- At noon.
Answer: 2. During the evening twilight.
Quiz 4:
Question: What does “Under the cover of darkness” mean?
- To openly do something during the day.
- To do something secretly or discreetly during the night.
- To stay indoors during the night.
Answer: 2. To do something secretly or discreetly during the night.
Quiz 5:
Question: When might you use the phrase “As black as pitch”?
- When describing a bright and sunny day.
- When something is completely black or devoid of light.
- When referring to a colorful painting.
Answer: 2. When something is completely black or devoid of light.
Quiz 6:
Question: What does “Inky black” compare darkness to?
- The color white.
- The color of ink, which is very dark.
- The color red.
Answer: 2. The color of ink, which is very dark.
Quiz 7:
Question: When would you say “In the shadow of night”?
- During the daytime.
- During the nighttime or under the cover of darkness.
- During a storm.
Answer: 2. During the nighttime or under the cover of darkness.
Quiz 8:
Question: What does “A blanket of darkness” refer to?
- A warm and cozy blanket.
- A thick and all-encompassing darkness.
- A bright and sunny day.
Answer: 2. A thick and all-encompassing darkness.
Quiz 9:
Question: When might someone be “Drowning in darkness”?
- When they are swimming in a pool.
- When they are overwhelmed or consumed by darkness.
- When they are enjoying a starry night.
Answer: 2. When they are overwhelmed or consumed by darkness.
Quiz 10:
Question: What is described as “Dark as a moonless night”?
- A well-lit street.
- Extremely dark with no moonlight.
- A day with a full moon.
Answer: 2. Extremely dark with no moonlight.
Conclusion
Idioms for darkness paint vivid pictures of the absence of light and the mysteries that lurk within it. These expressions remind us of the fascination and fear that darkness can evoke in our lives.
